Teapot, coffee-pot, and other infusing vessel.



L. L. GRIMWADE. TEAPOT, COFFEE POT, AND. OTHER INEUSING VESSEL.APPLICATION FILED DEO.14,1909.

986,458, Patented Mar. 14, 1911.

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LEONARD LUMSDEN GRIMWADE, OF WOLSTANTON, ENGLAND.

TEAPOT, COFFEE-POT, AND OTHER INFUSING VESSEL.

Specification of LettersPatent.

Application filed December 14, 1909.

Patented Mar. 14, 1911.

Serial No. 532,984.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LEONARD LUMSDEN GRIMWADE, subject of the King ofGreat Britain, residing at Wolstanton, in the county of Staiford,England, have invented certain new and useful Improvements Pertaining toTeapots, Cofiee-Pots, and other Infusing Vessels, of which the followingis a specification.

This invention consists of improvements in or pertaining to tea pots,coffee pots and other infusing vessels for the purpose of regulating theduration of infusion and re lates more particularly to pots of that kindwhich contain aspecial perforated receptacle for the tea leaves or othersubstance, the water upon being poured into said receptacle until thesame is filled rising to a higher level therein than in the other partsof the tea pot where it is at an abnormally low level, until both arerestored to the same or normal level by releasing air which has beenimprisoned meanwhile, and thus causing the water in the said receptacleto fall out of contact with the tea leaves, or other substance, which isbeing infused.

More particularly my invention consists of an appliance somewhatresembling a div ing bell in its action, within which the air isimprisoned and compressed by the surrounding fluid, a suitable air valvebeing provided for release of said compressed air when required; thisappliance is not made integral with the tea pot, but is separatetherefrom and formed conveniently in one piece. Its advantages arenumerous as it is adaptable for any shape of tea pot, stands on thebottom of the pot and cannot become choked, possesses a broad base andis there-- fore steady and it can be easily cleaned; the latter is veryimportant as other devices for the purpose above mentioned do not permitof being so cleaned and speedily become choked up with dregs whichcontaminate the pot or produce an unpleasant odor.

As in the form illustrated in the accompanying drawings the appliancemay be provided with means for keeping it steady.

Referring to the said drawings Figure 1 is a section of a tea pot withmy appliance shown therein by dotted lines, and Fig. 2 is a View, partin elevation, part in section of the appliance itself.

The tea pot A and lid B may be of one of theusual types, two or anyother convenient number of nibs, for preference, being provided, inconjunction with corresponding gaps in the edge of the lid, to enable itto be introduced and retained in position by a slight turn. I alsoprovide, by preference, a flange D on the strainer E that forms part ofthe appliance, hereinafter described, said flange D being recessed as atF to correspond with nibs C inside the neck of the tea pot, and therebyallow of the appliance being removed from or replaced within the tea potA when required. After the latter operation, it is merely necessary toturn the appliance slightly, so as to bring the nibs under the flange,whereupon the appliance will be securely held down upon the base of thetea pot. 1th the strainer E, and forming one with it, there is provideda bell H, the stem of which is hollow and passes up through the strainerand is capped with a suitable air valve K, which projects up through ahole in the lid B of the pot, so as to be easily accessible to thefingers. The bell is perforated at suitable points around its base, asat L, and its base is so shaped that it approximately fits within thesunken recess in the base of the tea pot, although this is immaterial.

The action of the apparatus is as follows: When it is secured within thetea pot, its air valve K being closed, water is poured into the tea potthrough the strainer E in the usual manner, and partially enters thebell H, through the perforations L, but does not rise so high therein asin the surrounding part of the tea pot owing to a certain amount of airbecoming imprisoned and unable to escape, the water being continued tobe poured in, however, reaches at length the level 11 (see Fig. 1) inthe space outside of the bell and thus fills the strainer E in which arethe tea leaves. After sufiicient length of time for the tea to beinfused, the imprisoned air is released from the bell H by opening theair valve K, and the water consequently rises therein, a correspondinglowering taking place in the other part-s of the pot, until a generallevel 2-2 (Fig. 1) is reached, which is below the strainer E. Excessiveinfusion of the tea is thus pre vented.

The'relat-ive positions of the nibs and gaps in the respective partsaforesaid may obviously be interchanged to suit any special requirement.

I claim 7 1. In a device of thecharacter described,

the combination with a vessel, of a strainer for holding the substanceto be infused, a bell supporting the strainer, said bell extending belowthestrainer adapted to retain air,.and means for permitting the air, inthe bell to escape. whereby the water poured over the substance rises insaid bell and falls below the strainer. i v V 2. In a device of theclass described, the combination with a vessel, of a perforatedreceptacle for holding the substance to be infused, a bell supportingthe strainer, [said bell extending below the receptacle adapted toretain air, a hollow stem connected to the bell and passing through saidreceptacle,

and means for permitting the air to escape through the stem whereby thewater poured over the substance rises in said bell and falls below saidreceptacle.

3. In a device of the class described, the combination with a vessel, ofa perforated receptacle for holding the substance to be infused, a bellsupporting the strainer, said bell'extending below the receptacleadapted to retain air, the bell resting on the bottom of said vessel andhaving recesses in its edge, a hollow stem connected to the bell andpassing through said receptacle, and a valve for permitting the air toescape through the stem whereby the water poured over the substancepasses through said recesses, rises in the bell and falls below saidreceptacle.

Dated November th 1909. In testimony whereof, I aflix my signature inthe presence of two witnesses.

LEONARD LUMSDEN GRIMWADE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Iatents, Washington, D. G.

